Faith or Faithfulness

The problem is generated by an opinion of the "self-appointed" Apostle Paul/Saul.

His letter to the Galatians - Gal. 3:11, "But that no man is justified ..." – This is The argument that Paul/Saul has been pursuing, (upon which much of "Christianity" is based) which he then proceeds to develop, and then attempts to confirm by an express declaration of his Greek writings. Paul/Saul’s opinion is this: "It is impossible that a man should be justified by the Law, because God (as he supposes) has appointed another way of justification."(There is, however, no Scriptural evidence but the one verse in Hab. 2:4 given for what is simply "his" conjecture). Because, (as he reasons) there cannot be two ways of obtaining life, He (God), must have appointed faith as the new condition on which people shall live. By his false assumption Paul/Saul has precluded the possibility of obtaining salvation in any other mode.

"For, The just shall live by faith" - This is Paul/Saul quoting from Hab_2:4. This passage is also quoted by Paul/Saul in Rom_1:17; His sense here is, that life is promised to man only in connection with faith, (according to his understanding of Hab. 2:4). Therefore he reasons, it is not by the works of the Law. The condition of life he believes, is faith, and he lives who has this "faith." This is again only based on his opinion, since he provides no Scriptural supporting evidence. Life he believes, is promised and exists only in connection with this faith, and that the just or righteous man obtains it only in this way. Of course, he believes, it cannot be obtained by the observance of the Law, therefore, it must be by some other scheme.

However, Paul/Saul’s opinion is directly opposed to the teachings of Yahshua Messiah, who Paul/Saul never had the opportunity to directly learn from. This is unfortunate, for much of Christianity took to the error of Paul/Saul’s translation of Hab. 2:4, and is ignoring the clear teaching of Yahshua Messiah.

Eternal Life according to Yahshua Messiah:

Mat 19:16 And, behold, coming near, one said to Him, Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?

Mat 19:17 And He said to him, Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One, YHWH! But if you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments.

Yahshua is very clearly providing an answer here to a very specific question. Entering into "life" requires the keeping of the commandments. In other words, faithfulness by one's action leads to justification, not just "blind faith." Yahshua did not quote Hab. 2:4, or give an opinion similar to Paul/Saul's, that the requirement is "Faith" only in or for something or someone.

Paul/Saul’s quote "the Just shall live by faith" is supposed to be from Hab. 2:4. Yet, in light of what Yahshua Messiah is quoted to have said, who is really correct? Is Paul/Saul correct, that obtaining life requires "faith," or is Yahshua Messiah correct, that obtaining life requires "faithfulness"?

According to Strong’s Concordance, the word Faith:

Faith, 'e mu na h

"Feminine of H529; literally firmness; figuratively security; moral fidelity: - faith (-ful, -ly, -ness, [man]), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily."

As can be readily seen, the "literal" meaning of the word "faith" in Hebrew is "firmness."

Figuratively it is "security" and with morality it is "fidelity". As used in the KJV, the word is translated as "faith (-ful, -ly, -ness, [man]), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily". [This is quite a mixed bag of choices.]

Since this all important word Faith has several meanings in the KJV beyond that of just simple dumb faith, we will need to do a deeper study into this Hebrew word - 'e mu na h.

According to the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible, pg 170-171, the "action definition" of the Hebrew word root ('e mu na h) is "Firm." The pictograph (Ancient Hebrew letters in picture form) shows a picture of water or other liquid such as "blood" together with a picture of a seed representing "continuance." Combined these symbols mean "blood - continues." In general terms, it means that each species (kind) continues by passing its blood to the following generation, which comes from the parents. It also conveys the idea of strength (firmness) through the blood.

In Ancient Hebrew (A-MW-NH) - is defined as "Firmness": [freq. 49] |kjv: faithfulness, truth, faithfully, office, faithful, faith, stability, steady, truly| {Strong's: 530}.

To be "firm" is to remain steadfast, and solid, and requires resolve. Faith on the other hand, is simply trusting in something or someone. It is the belief that what someone has told you is correct, when in fact it may or may not be. To believe that what you read in this document is true without any further study, would be "faith." If you study to come to the conclusion that what is presented in this document is correct, then you would be faithful.

It becomes very clear, that this Hebrew word used by Paul/Saul as "faith" to develop much of his theology is used in complete ignorance, or just plain error. The Hebrew word 'e mu na h has the real meaning of being firm or having firmness, representing family continuance through the steadfastness of the parents. It includes passing on Scriptural truths, teaching the young the all-important Torah, and all the knowledge learned by the parents. In other words, it is all of "faithfulness, faithfully, truth, stability, steady, truly, steadfastness and resolve" requiring "firm" action by passing on "through the family blood line" resolve as well as pure genealogy so that the following generation can in turn also continue in "steadfastness and resolve" and remain faithful. The simple "blind faith" held by an individual cannot be passed on. Since it is a personal conviction, faith dies with the individual, but action, steadfastness and resolve, required by faithfulness is a trait that can be passed on to the children, and they will not depart from it.

Paul/Saul has mistranslated the Hebrew by using Greek sources, either deliberately or by plain stupidity, and has built the Christian doctrine of justification by faith only on complete error. This requires trust in the Pharisee Paul/Saul, when Yahweh requires "faithfulness."

Who do you believe is correct? Is it "blind faith" as is the opinion of the self-appointed Apostle Paul/Saul from which one receives life, or is it "faithfulness or steadfastness" as taught by Yahshua Messiah from which one inherits life? We choose the opinion of Yahshua Messiah. (See also Matt. 7: 21-29).

Note: see also the "The Scriptures" translation, which agrees with us.

Bible Passages that need correction:

(Hab 2:4 ) Behold, the soul of him is puffed up and is not upright; but the just shall live by his faith steadfastness.

(Rom 1:17 ) ………, "But the just shall live by faith steadfastness." Hab. 2:4

(Gal 3:11) ……….…,"The just shall live by faith steadfastness." Hab. 2:4


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